Travel
On January 31st, I had the incredible opportunity to compete in my first international high jump competition at the International High Jump Gala Elmos in Herentals. It was a major milestone, the first real step into my professional career.
My husband and I traveled over 3,000 miles, arriving in Brussels on January 23rd after a long 16-hour journey. From there, we navigated trains and buses to reach our hotel. For two foreigners with oversized suitcases and backpacks, we were actually doing a great job, until the moment we realized which bus was ours… just as it pulled away without us.
Determined, we bought another train ticket and caught the next bus that would get us close to our hotel. Lugging two large suitcases and backpacks, we definitely looked like tourists trekking through town. Still, the views made it worth it. Riding the train gave us our first glimpse of Belgium’s beautiful landscape and charming architecture.
After sitting on the bus for about 40 minutes and getting closer to our stop, my husband debated whether he needed to press the stop button. We decided to wait and see if the bus would stop automatically. It did not. Before we knew it, we had passed our stop and crossed a long bridge into a quiet neighborhood.
When we checked the map, reality hit: we had a 30-minute walk to the hotel. With luggage. Along a busy road. In an unfamiliar area.
My husband carried most of the luggage as we made our way down the road, earning plenty of curious looks along the way. When we finally arrived, the hotel looked like something out of a vampire movie, grand, dark, and dramatic. Exhausted but relieved, we checked in and settled into our room.
Later, we took an Uber to a local grocery store. The food in Europe was absolutely fantastic. The breads, deli meats, and fresh ingredients were unlike anything back home, minimal processing, rich flavor, and incredibly fresh. I was in heaven.
Because we were staying in a more local area, not many people spoke English, but everyone was incredibly kind and patient. We were able to check out with minimal issues and Uber back to the hotel (even if our Uber budget took a hit).
It wasn’t the smoothest start to our international adventure, but it was memorable, humbling, and exciting.
Meet Day
Meet day was everything I dreamed of for my introduction into the international pro scene. We arrived at a beautiful multi-sport facility in Herentals to check in for the competition.
Right away, we ran into a small issue, my husband wasn’t a registered coach, so they initially wouldn’t let him in. We stressed for about 30 minutes, unsure of what we were going to do. Thankfully, the meet director came over personally. He was excited that I had traveled so far to compete and kindly allowed my husband to come in. It was such a small gesture, but it meant everything in that moment. He was incredibly sweet and welcoming.
We watched the youth boys competition as the crowd slowly began to grow. I had never experienced a high-jump-only meet before and I had certainly never seen that many supporters show up for one event. The energy built as the stands filled.
The atmosphere was unreal. There were strobe lights, fog machines, music pumping through the venue, and nonstop energy from the crowd. It felt electric. I had never experienced anything like it. For my first introduction to the international professional scene, it was more than I could have imagined.
Warm Up
As I began warming up, I looked around and spotted two familiar American professional high jumpers I had competed against in college. It was surreal seeing familiar faces all the way in Belgium. I also noticed an Olympian I had followed for years, someone I had watched on big stages, now warming up beside me.
Many of the athletes were ranked higher than me. Coming into the meet, I was seeded 7th out of 12 competitors. Instead of letting that intimidate me, I used it as motivation. I belonged there. I had earned my spot.
Show Time
Then it was time to compete.
The meet had kids walk us out for introductions. When my name was called, I ran out to greet the crowd and was met with loud cheers. That moment alone made the long travel worth it.
I opened at 1.75m and soared over the bar, feeling confident and ready.
The bar moved to 1.79m, and once again I cleared it on my first attempt.
Then the bar went up to 1.82m. I missed my first attempt. Then my second. I had one jump left. I regrouped, reset mentally, and attacked the bar — clearing it on my final attempt. The crowd erupted, kids cheering as I walked back by them. That feeling is something I will never forget.
After each jump, my husband stood by my side, encouraging me and giving me small technical reminders. Having him there meant everything.
When the bar moved to 1.85m, something shifted. I subconsciously began to check out and change things that didn’t need to be changed. This has been a pattern for me, after soaring over earlier bars, fear can creep in. Instead of staying aggressive and free, I tighten up.
Working on my mental space will be key going into my next meets. The physical ability is there. Now it’s about trusting it, especially when the bar gets high.
For my first international professional meet, it was unforgettable. And it showed me exactly where I’m capable of going next.
Next Up
Next up, I’ll be competing at Liberty University before heading to US Nationals in New York.
Each meet is another opportunity to grow, sharpen my mindset, and build confidence at higher bars. This season is just getting started and I’m excited to see how high I can go.
1.79